Convertible dresser trunk



Au 20, 1929. Y J. w. THARP 11725550 CONVERT IBLE DRES SER TRUNK FiledJune 20. 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 1 fia. I fig 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

J'Ol-IIWW. THARE, 9F QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE DRESSER TRUNK.

Application filed June 20,

h ly invention relates to improvements in convertible dresser trunks,and has "for its primary object a trunk which can be readily convertedinto a dresser.

A further object is to construct a convertible trunk which is providedwith a hinged lid containing a mirror and which is especially adaptedfor use on automobiles, taking the place of the ordinary trunkcustoinarily carried by such vehicles at their rear end, and which whenremoved from the automobile can be readily converted into a dresser.

A still further object is to construct a convertible trunk in which thearticles carried by said trunk are deposited in drawers, which areautomatically locked when. the lid is lowcred and which can only beopened when the lid is raised. This makes my device especially usefulwhen used for touring purposes as not only is a trunk provided in whichclothing can be readily carried, but the trunk can be quickly convertedinto a dresser thereby making it especially useful for can'ipingpurposes.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view ofmy device when arranged as a trunk;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the manner of collapsing thesupporting legs;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing my de vice arranged as a dresser;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View with the lid or cover detached;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental cross section illustrating the mannerof lockin the drawers when the lid or cover is closed;

Fig; 8 is a fragmental perspective view of the locking means;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of one of the supporting legs; and

Fig. 10 is a side view of the same.

In the construction of my device I employ a casing comprising a front11, a back 12, and side members 13. The casing is pro vided with abottom 14 and with a top 15. The bottom 141 is recessed or set up abovethe lower edge of the front, back and sides so as to provide a space forthe supporting legs 16 when in collapsed position.

Secured to the sides 13 are aplurality of 1927. Serial No. 199,932.

spaced apart slides 17 which slidably support drawers 18. These drawersare provided with knobs 19 so that the same can be readily pulled out orpushed in. However in place of knobs any other means by which the draw--crs can be pulled out may be employed.

The top 15 is located at some distance below the upper edge of the sides13 and back 12, the front being unobstructed. Carried by the sides 13and positioned above the top 15 are slides 19 in Which a board or top 20is fitted in such a manner that it can be easily removed. On one face ofthe top 20 is pro vided a resilient padding 21-, such as felt or thelike, the purpose of which will be explained in detail later. Secured tothe back 12 are hinges 22, these hinges also being secured to the lid orcover 23, which lid is pro vided with a flange 24 so that when the lidis closed, the lower edge of the flange will rest on the top 15 andprevent any movement of the slide '20.

Carried by the lid 23 is a frame 25, which surrounds a mirror 26 andbetween the back of the mirror-and the lid or cover 23 I place paddingor resilient material 27.

Pivotally carried by the bottom 14 are legs 16, which are held inposition by means of studs 29 passing through ears or brackets 30, whichbrackets are secured to the bottom 14 in any well known manner. The legs16 are provided with furniture slides 31, which, when the legs are incollapsed position, pro ject below the lower edge of the trunk so as topermit itto move freely. The legs are tied together in pairs by means ofcross rods or bars 32, which will tend to stiffen them when in extendedposition, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In. order to afford a support for the legs I have provided blocks 33,which are located at each corner of the trunk and against which the legsabut when in extended position, and, in order to provide a support forthe le s when in collapsed position, I employ blocks 34. These blocksare of such width or thickness that when the legs 28 are in the positionindicated in Fig. 3 that they Will bind against the blocks thusfrictionally holding them in position when the trunk is lifted. Theyalso act as stifleners for the legs when the trunk is moved on theslides, co-acting in this instance with the stiffener 82.

In order to keep the lid or cover down straps are made use of and mydevice can also be supplied with a lock, such as is ordinarily used ontrunks or with a hasp and pad lock. This however I have not shown as itis a well known construction. 7

The slide 20 is provided with a cutaway portion 36 through which theupper end 37 of the drawer locking means extends. This drawer lockingmeans consists of a rod 38 which has extensions 39 integral therewith;These extensions pass through cars 10 carried by the back 12 and alsothrough ears a1 carried by the back of the drawers 18. A spring 42isemployed which surrounds one of the extensions 39 in such a manner thatit will have a tendency to lift the rod 28 when the lid or cover 23 israised. The upward movement of the rod is limited by means of a stop as.It will be noted from F 7 that the locking means 38 also pass throughthe top 15. In order to prevent the lid or cover from being thrown toofar back I employ a restraining means at. This may be either a chain asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 or any other well known restraining meansand therefore I do not desire to limit myself thereto, nor do I desireto limit myself to the peculiar type of furniture slides disclosed inFigs. 9 and 10, as in place of the ordinary slide I may employ eitherrollers, casters or similar rolling means. The peculiar type of lockingmechanism for the drawers may also be varied without departing from thespirit of my invention.

During the shipment or traveling of the trunk, the device is in theposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is with the lid down. VJ hen inthis position the lid or cover contacts with the end 37 of the lockingmeans 38 moving it downward into the position shown in Fig. 7 so thatthe projections 39 will pass through the cars 41 and thereby preventingany accidental opening of the drawers.

When the device is to be used as a dresser the straps 35 are removed andthe locking means for the lid, if any has been provided, is unlocked andthe lid or cover raised. This raising of the lid permits the spring 42to move the locking means upward thereby unlocking all of the drawers sothat they can be pulled out and access had to their contents, it beingunderstood, of course, that the legs 16 have been preferably moved intothe position illustratedin Figs. and 5, the restraining members t lpreventing the lid from moving too far back. After this has been donethe slide 20 is withdrawn and reversed so that the padding material willbe on the underneath side, sufficient space having been left between thetop 15 and the slide to accommodate this padding material.

WVhen it is desired to again close the trunk, the slide is reversed soas to bring the pad ding material uppermost, the drawers pushed all theway in, the lid or cover lowered. When in this posit-ion, as illustratedin Fig. 7 the mirror will be between two elastic pads so that there willbe very little danger of it becoming broken; at the same time the chainsor restraining members 14C being secured outside of the mirror will notin any way interfore therewith. The legs are then collapsed and thestraps or locking device for the lid operated and the trunk is ready forship ment.

My device may be either constructed of wood or of sheet metal, thelatter being preferable especially when used for automobile trunks.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A convertibledresser trunk comprising a casing, drawers slidably mounted in saidcasing, hinged lid having a mirror secured to its underneath surface forsaid casing, means located in said casing and co-operating with saiddrawers whereby the same are automatically locked when said lid isclosed andunlocked when said lid is opened, a sliding top carried bysaid casing and having a body of resilient material located on one facethereof, said material adapted to contact with said mirror when said'lid is closed, and folding legs carried by the bottom of saidcasing,said legs being provided on one face with means whereby said trunk canbe readily moved when the legs are in folded position.

2. A convertible dresser trunk comprising a casing, drawers slidablymounted in said casing, a hinged lid having a mirror secured to itsunderneath surface for said casing, means located in said casing andco-operating with said drawers whereby the same are automatically lockedwhen said lid is closed and unlocked when said lid is opened, a slidingtop carried by said casing and having a body of resilient materiallocated on one face thereof, said material adapted to contact with saidmirror when said lid is closed, folding legs carried by the bottom ofsaid casing, said legs being provided on one face with means wherebysaid trunk can be readily moved when the legs are in folded position,and means for supporting said lid when the same is opened.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN W. THARP.

